Low German Middle Distillate Demand Encourages Exports
Southwestern Germany’s oversupplied middle‑distillate market is prompting traders to export diesel and heating oil down the Rhine to the Amsterdam‑Rotterdam‑Antwerp (ARA) hub. Regional heating‑oil prices in Karlsruhe were about €13 per 100 L (≈$14) below the national average, while diesel discounts narrowed by roughly €4 per 100 L (≈$4). Nationwide heating‑oil volumes in March fell roughly 50% versus February, as buyers delayed purchases amid price spikes linked to the US‑Israel‑Iran conflict. Bayernoil’s Neustadt refinery has resumed operations, but other plants remain under maintenance, keeping supply tight.
Why Food Prices Are Resisting the Oil and Fertiliser Shock — for Now
Food price inflation has stayed modest even as oil prices have surged over 50% this year and global fertilizer costs have jumped roughly 70%. The rise in input costs has been partially absorbed by farmers through larger inventories, cheaper alternative...
Ferroglobe May Halt Operations if Not Afforded Reduced Electricity Tariffs
Ferroglobe South Africa warned it could shut all smelters if reduced electricity tariffs are not secured by 1 April. Electricity costs have surged more than 900% since 2007, now exceeding 50% of production expenses and eroding profitability. CEO Marco Levi said...
TotalEnergies Made $1bn Profit From Middle East Oil Bet as War Disrupts Prices
TotalEnergies earned over $1 bn (€868 m) profit by snapping up roughly 70 Middle East crude cargoes in March as war‑related disruptions choked the Strait of Hormuz. The profit stemmed from a sudden narrowing of the Dubai crude benchmark after S&P Global Platts suspended...
White Van Men ‘Bleeding Cash’ in Iran War Diesel Chaos
Diesel prices in the UK have risen to 179.9p per litre (about $2.25), up more than 35p since the Iran‑Israel conflict began, creating the widest diesel‑petrol price gap in decades. The RAC reports that over 4.6 million vans – the backbone...
Gold and Silver Prices Plunge: Why Has Safe-Haven Demand Faded Amid Iran War?
Gold prices have slumped about 25% from their record $5,602 (≈€4,873) peak to around $4,500 (≈€3,915) despite the ongoing Iran war, as a stronger US dollar and rising Treasury yields eroded safe‑haven appeal. The drop triggered a rapid unwind of...
Why High Oil Prices Could Plunge World Into Recession by the Summer
Economists warn that a sustained oil price of $150 per barrel, driven by escalating US‑Israel‑Iran tensions, could push the global economy into a rare mid‑year recession. Brent crude already breached $116, reflecting heightened war risk and supply concerns. Oxford Economics...
Managing Volatile Energy Prices: How DERMS Give C&I Customers More Control
Commercial electricity prices have jumped 19% since 2019, reaching 12.8 cents per kilowatt‑hour, while industrial rates hit 8.1 cents/kWh, driving unprecedented cost volatility for C&I firms. Traditional procurement and efficiency measures no longer shield margins, prompting a shift toward Distributed Energy Resource...
Gold Falls as Houthi Attack Lifts Oil, Fed Rate-Cut Hopes Dim
Gold prices slipped on Monday, with spot gold falling 0.6% to $4,466.99 per ounce, marking a 15% monthly decline—the sharpest since October 2008. The drop was driven by a surge in energy prices after a Houthi attack, which lifted Brent...
South Korea Considers Nationwide Driving Curbs as Oil Prices Soar
South Korea is weighing a nationwide driving‑curb policy if global crude oil prices climb to roughly $120‑$130 per barrel, up from the current $100‑$110 range. The measure would extend the current public‑sector vehicle rotation system, marking the first country‑wide restriction...
Gold Futures Increase on Spot Demand
Gold futures climbed 0.78% on Monday, reaching $4,528.23 per ounce in New York. In India, spot demand pushed the price of gold on the Multi‑Commodity Exchange to ₹1,44,800 per 10 grams, a ₹518 (0.36%) increase for April contracts. The rally was driven...
European Markets Mixed as Iran Tensions Push Oil Prices Higher
European markets opened lower on Monday but quickly split, with Germany's DAX barely down 0.04%, while the FTSE 100 rose 0.59% and France's CAC 40 edged up 0.05%. The divergence follows a 50% jump in Brent crude since the Iran...
Prices of Asia-Pacific's Fertilisers, Petrochemicals Set to Surge on Iran War: ADB
The Asian Development Bank warns that the Iran‑Israel conflict is driving sharp increases in fertilizer and petrochemical prices across the Asia‑Pacific. Methanol benchmark prices rose about 25% in two weeks, while urea and ammonia costs surged after Qatar’s QAFCO halted...
Fuel Excise Halved, Truck Charges Removed for Three Months
The Australian federal government announced a temporary halving of the fuel excise, cutting pump prices by about 26.3 cents per litre, and reduced the heavy‑vehicle road user charge (RUC) to zero for three months. It also postponed a scheduled 6% RUC...
Oil Prices Rise as Iran War Escalates with Houthi Attacks
Oil prices jumped above $116 a barrel on Sunday as Iran‑backed Houthi militants fired missiles and drones at Israel, extending the conflict into its fifth week. Brent crude rose 3.3% to $116.25, while U.S. WTI climbed about 3% to nearly...
High Oil Prices Fuel Apac Energy Crisis as Middle East War Enters Fifth Week
Brent crude rose above $115 a barrel, up $3 over the weekend, as the Middle East war entered its fifth week. The conflict, which began on February 28 with Israeli and U.S. airstrikes in Iran, has tightened global oil supplies....
Oil and Fertilizer Prices May Soon Have Ripple Effects on These 3 Commodities Stocks
The Strait of Hormuz blockade is pushing oil and natural‑gas prices higher, which in turn is inflating fertilizer costs. The article spotlights three commodity‑linked stocks that could benefit: CF Industries, whose North‑American gas access fuels strong earnings of $1.46 billion in...
Oil Trade Has Begun for the Week - Prices Higher
Oil markets opened the week on a bullish note, with Brent crude climbing about $2.70 to roughly $115.30 a barrel and U.S. West Texas Intermediate rising $2.35 to near $102 per barrel. The gains came as U.S. equity index futures...
U.S. Allows Russian Oil Shipment to Cuba Amid Global Energy Disruptions
The United States has authorized a Russian‑flagged tanker, the Anatoly Kolodkin, to deliver between 650,000 and 730,000 barrels of crude oil to Cuba, temporarily easing a long‑standing de facto oil blockade. The move coincides with a broader, short‑term relaxation of Russia‑related...
Monday Briefing: National Cabinet’s Emergency Fuel Crisis Meeting
Australia faces a deepening petrol crisis as more than 500 service stations have run out of at least one fuel type, driving prices sharply higher. The shortage stems from the war sparked by the US and Israel in Iran and...
Russia Was Expecting a Windfall From Soaring Oil Prices, but Relentless Ukrainian Drone Attacks Are Devastating Nearly Half Its Export...
Russia banked on a windfall after oil prices spiked when the Strait of Hormuz closed and the United States briefly eased sanctions on its crude. The surge lifted Urals prices near Brent, temporarily rescuing a revenue stream that had collapsed...
Food Crisis Looms as Fuel Prices Drive Farmers, Fishers Into Debt—Group
A Filipino farmers’ coalition, Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas, warned on March 29 that soaring fuel prices are pushing farmers and fisherfolk deeper into debt and could trigger a nationwide food crisis. Diesel‑driven irrigation and transport costs have surged, while fertilizer prices...
NSE to Introduce Dated Brent Crude Oil Futures Contract From Apr 13
The National Stock Exchange of India (NSE) will launch Dated Brent Crude Oil (Platts) futures on April 13, 2026, after receiving SEBI approval. The contract will be cash‑settled, with monthly settlement based on the simple average of Platts Dated Brent...
MONEY THOUGHTS: Curbing, Capping and Curtailing Lifestyle Creep
The escalating Iranian conflict has pushed crude oil prices above $100 per barrel and raised the specter of a Strait of Hormuz closure, which could choke one‑fifth of global oil flow. Such a supply shock would amplify fuel costs, trigger...
Does the Price of Diesel Drive Truckload Rates?
Diesel prices have surged 41% since March 2, while dry‑van spot rates rose 7.5%, yielding a 0.7 correlation. Historically, the relationship flips—March 2022 showed a –0.8 correlation—showing diesel isn’t a consistent driver. Fuel now accounts for roughly 30% of a truck’s operating...
Drillers See Triple-Digit Crude and Hit the Brakes
Brent crude has surged past $100 a barrel and WTI topped $90, creating a price environment that comfortably exceeds shale breakeven levels. Yet U.S. oil drillers remain hesitant, citing the ongoing Middle East conflict as a major obstacle to investment...
ENSO, Ethanol, and the Physics of a Sugar Bull Market
A La Niña‑driven moisture deficit over Brazil’s Centre‑South cane belt is creating a bullish signal for raw sugar that has not yet been priced into markets. Brazil, which accounts for roughly 40% of global sugar exports, typically sees yields dip three...
Why Spain Is Weathering Europe’s Energy Crunch Better Than Most
Spain’s electricity market is insulated from the current European energy crunch thanks to a renewable‑heavy mix—almost 60% of its power comes from solar, wind and nuclear—keeping the average price at about €14/MWh (≈$15) versus over €100/MWh (≈$107) in Italy, Germany...
Pick of BL Commodities - March 29, 2026
China rejected three Indian rice shipments over alleged GMO contamination, signaling heightened trade friction. India is weighing "floor and ceiling" price clauses for key fertilizers as global prices surge and monsoon planting looms. Meanwhile, half of the nation’s 166 major...
Higher Oil Prices Could Revive U.S. Shale Drilling in 2026, Citi Says
Higher oil prices spurred by the Middle East conflict are prompting Citi to predict a resurgence in U.S. shale drilling later this year, with an expected output boost of more than 100,000 barrels per day by 2027. The bank’s forward‑curve...
Why It's Not Time to Give Up on the Gold Trade
Gold has retreated about 20% from its recent peak above $5,000 as a stronger U.S. dollar and profit‑taking pressure the market. Despite the pullback, the United States’ $42 trillion net deficit and rising Treasury yields reinforce gold’s role as an inflation...
The Oil Shocks of the ’70s Changed the World. Will the Iran War Do the Same?
The 1973‑74 Arab oil embargo and the 1978‑79 Iranian revolution caused oil prices to quadruple, triggering severe gasoline shortages and reshaping global financial markets. Those shocks redirected capital flows and solidified the U.S. dollar as the world’s primary reserve currency....
Oil Climbs, Stocks Fall as Markets See No End to War
Oil prices surged after the United States and Israel struck Iranian nuclear sites, with Brent climbing 4.2% to $112.57 a barrel and WTI jumping 5.5% to $99.64. At the same time, equity markets slipped, the S&P 500 closing 1.7% lower and...
Oil Prices Gain as Traders Doubt Prospects of Ceasefire in Iran War
Oil prices jumped on March 27 as traders grew skeptical about a cease‑fire in the month‑long Iran conflict. Brent crude rose 4.2% to $112.57 a barrel and WTI gained 5.5% to $99.64. Since the February 27 strikes, Brent is up...
Gold Rate Today in India Jumps over ₹17,000 From the Weekly Low. Is This a Right Time to Buy...
Gold prices in India rebounded sharply, climbing over ₹17,500 to ₹147,270 per 10 gm (≈ $1,775) after a weekly low of ₹129,595 (≈ $1,562). Internationally, COMEX gold held above $4,500 per ounce but posted a 1.85% weekly decline. The rally was fueled by...
Tehran’s “Toll Booth” In Hormuz Cuts Western Buyers Out of Fertilizer Supply Chain
Iran has instituted a formal toll and vetting regime in the Strait of Hormuz, charging up to $2 million per vessel and effectively barring Western-bound fertilizer cargoes. The move has driven benchmark urea prices up 68% to $681 per metric ton...
The Cushion Is Gone and the Oil Market Is Now Exposed
The global oil market absorbed the shock of the largest supply disruption in history – the closure of the Strait of Hormuz – thanks to pre‑war inventory cushions. For roughly four weeks, prices remained muted as surplus stocks and strategic...
Brent Heads Into Weekend on High Note
Brent crude futures surged into the weekend, climbing roughly 5% to around $85 a barrel, the highest level in several months. The rally was driven by lingering supply worries as the war in the Middle East shows no sign of...
Market Watch: April Nymex Expires at $3.095/MMBtu
April Nymex natural gas futures rose 9.6 cents to close at $3.095 per MMBtu, while the May contract, set to become the prompt‑month contract on Monday, gained 9.7 cents to $3.025. Gelber & Associates noted that prices below $3 continue to draw...
Markets React Negatively to EPA Renewable Fuel Standard Announcement
The EPA finalized the 2026‑2027 Renewable Fuel Standard, setting the largest biomass‑based diesel volume ever approved. Grain markets reacted sharply negative, with futures dropping as traders processed the news. Analysts suggest the decline stems from uncertainty about future RFS targets...
Iran War Spikes Energy Prices – UK Homes Ditch Fossil Fuels Fast
UK homeowners are accelerating the shift away from fossil fuels as energy price spikes tied to the US‑Israel‑Iran conflict drive demand for solar panels, heat pumps, and electric‑vehicle chargers. Octopus Energy reported record March enquiries, with solar sales up 54%...
Farmland Outlook Remains Solid Even as Farm Incomes Lag, Economist Says
Economist Ernie Goss of Creighton University says farmland values are strengthening even as farm incomes remain flat. The Rural Mainstreet Index showed the March farmland index rose above growth‑neutral for the first time in 2026, signaling renewed price momentum. Goss...
WTI Crude Oil Touches $100 per Barrel. Eyes on Steel as Iran Vows Revenge
WTI crude settled at $99.64, briefly topping $100 per barrel for the first time since early May, as traders price a longer‑term Middle East conflict into oil markets. The rally follows a U.S.–Israeli strike on an Iranian steel facility, prompting...
Carnival Slashes Profit Outlook as Iran War Sends Fuel Costs Soaring
Carnival Corp lowered its full‑year adjusted earnings per share outlook to $2.21, down from a prior range up to $2.48, as surging fuel costs strain margins. The increase in fuel expenses, driven by Middle East geopolitical tensions and a lack...
Fastmarkets Proposes to Launch US Bismuth, Indium Price Assessments: Pricing Notice
Fastmarkets announced plans to introduce fortnightly price assessments for bismuth and indium on a Delivered‑Duty‑Paid (DDP) US basis starting May 1. The bismuth benchmark will be quoted in USD per pound with a minimum 1‑tonne contract, while indium will be priced...
Baker Hughes Total Rig Count Falls to 543 From 552 Last Week
Baker Hughes reported its total rig count fell to 543 this week, down from 552 the prior week. Oil rigs slipped to 409 from 414, while natural‑gas rigs declined to 127 from 131. The drop occurs even as crude prices...
As Diesel Prices Surpass 91 Petrol, Truckies Say Goods and Groceries Will Start Going up Too
Diesel prices in New Zealand have surged 80% since February, reaching $3.24‑$3.45 NZD per litre (about $1.94‑$2.07 USD), overtaking 91 petrol for the first time. Petrol has risen only 35% in the same period. Trucking firms are absorbing extra costs—up to $150 NZD (~$90 USD) daily...
Cash Dairy Prices Fell Friday
Cash dairy prices slipped on Friday at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, with most benchmarks posting modest declines. Forty‑pound cheese blocks fell $0.0375 to $1.5825 per pound, while cheese barrels dropped $0.0075 to $1.5650. Butter prices decreased $0.02 to $1.8250, and...
Midday Cash Livestock Markets
Midday cash livestock markets showed muted cattle activity, with live bids at $235, still below the $238‑$240 asking range in Texas, while Thursday’s deals held steady at $370‑$372 per head. Boxed beef prices rose, with Choice beef up $4.24 to...
China PV Industry Brief: China Adds 32.48 GW Solar as Polysilicon Prices Fall
China’s National Energy Administration reported 32.48 GW of new solar capacity installed in January‑February 2026, a 17.7% year‑on‑year decline, while total generation capacity reached 3.95 TW, with solar climbing to 1.23 TW (+33.2%). Polysilicon prices fell sharply, with weekly drops of up to...